it's the normally calm waters of lake michigan. the ice, wind and snow, a headache for travelers. tonight abc's meteorologist ginger zee is tracking it all from one of the busiest airports in the nation, chicago. ginger? >> reporter: almost 500 flights were canceled here in chicago alone, causing a domino effect across the nation, ruining some plans and delaying a whole lot of others. the holiday rush is on. airports packed with frustration and fiasco. >> they told us they can't fly us out of here until monday, which is two days after our cruise leaves. >> reporter: more than 1,600 flights yesterday and today, canceled. among those affected -- the apter family. >> it's frustrating. we're going home, we're not happy. their nine months of planning a family trip to peru -- erased. ripple effects from thursday's storm felt all the way to los angeles. >> i had to wait 45 minutes to see somebody to change my next flight. >> reporter: the storm that caused all that unhappiness -- but it ripped scaffolding in new york city today, rocked rough waves across the great lakes, and left far fro